Public Health Nursing launches online support and guidance for young people and parents

Devon County Council Public Health Nursing has launched two new websites to provide primary and secondary school age children and their parents or carers with health and wellbeing advice.

The websites have been developed with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and include national advice as well as relevant information about Devon services. 

They have interactive elements and activities to engage their audiences, and were co-designed by parents, carers, children, and young people. 

Health for Kids provides information for primary school aged children and includes games, videos, and quizzes.  

To help children’s understanding, the site has been split into four ‘worlds’: Staying Healthy, Illness, Feelings and Getting Help, with activities in each. 

For parents and carers of primary school aged children there is a separate area, with in-depth guidance and local information.  

The second website, created for young people, Health for Teens, provides information and advice through videos, listicles, quizzes, health information, truths and rumours. There are several different sections ranging from feelings, health, lifestyle, relationships and growing up. 

The two websites follow the launch of Devon’s Health for Under 5s site which went live earlier this year.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, the Council's Cabinet Member responsible for children's services, said: "As young people, and as parents, we do our best to make the most of life, and to make the right decisions. It's not easy, and we do what feels right at the time.

"Together, these three websites can help. They’re written by public health nursing professionals who are talking to young people and their parents or carers and see the challenges every day.

"They've compiled their advice so that everyone can use it, confidentially, in their own time, in their own company or better still shared between child and parent."

The sites welcome any additions from local residents. If you have any content, articles or local events you would like to submit for consideration please email: health.publichealthnursinghealthwebsites-mailbox@devon.gov.uk